Over 250 known pathogenic serovars exist, which infect different species of animals. The animals can spread the leptospires in their urine. Nearly all mammals are capable of carrying the bacteria’ and may spread the disease among others of their own kind and to other species, including man. Common animal reservoirs include:

rodents

cattle

pigs

Leptospirosis is more common in tropical areas of the world and is still uncommon in the UK.

Epidemiology

PHE has completed a pilot enhanced surveillance study (see protocol aimed at improving our understanding of leptospirosis in the UK to enable further development of guidance and policy. The pilot survey was closed at the end of December 2017 and will be evaluated to decide long term surveillance.

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